Who took a nothing and made it into a something??

[skewby]

Dylan, messed up Stow Fair item, passed from pillar to post for bolting, being sold as 9 but was in fact 4:

Has since turned his hoof to everything, super horse that prompts people on yard to say "but I want a Dylaaaannnnn!!"

He even looks after my knees going through gates. True story.

I was looking for a schoolmaster, not a 4 year old mess! But I sat on him and that was that.

Anyone else done this?? Been the most rewarding 7 years of my life

 

[AmyMay]

That is a wonderful story.

He really is a cracking little horse.

 

[TicTac]

well done, just goes to show what time and patients can achieve.

 

[spike123]

Like you I was horse shopping for a horse who had a bit of all round experience.I brought a very green youngster who had no manners to the point my hubby wanted me to sell him as he was described as dangerous. I have had him for 11 months now and he is a different horse all round.I have had alot of compliments regarding how well I have done with him and I am constantly being told that I have a real good horse on my hands.He is the one in my signature.

 

[OneInAMillion]

My horse was very dangerous and his owner said if we didnt want him he would be PTS and we have had him 2 years and I refused to ride him when we forst got him as he terrified me so much but after a lot of tears and hardwork yesterday we went to the Norfolk Show and came 4th and did a lap of honour with 32 other horses cue more tears but of joy this time

 

[Jeska]

I was 14 and looking for my first pony. A dodgy dealer sold me a 14.2 connemara pony on trial. After having him a week with him not being described and trying to bolt everytime he saw a bike, we got him vetted. The vet told my mum he was totally blind in one eye and was dangerous as a childs pony because he would run into things which he couldnt see ect. We tried to send the horse back but ended up falling in love with him. 4 years down the line we now have an incredible bond and so much trust in each other. He does everything I ask of him - has done xc, hunted and done local shows. I feel so proud when people compliment me on how well i have done with him.

 

[JenniferB]

What a nice post!

When I was shopping for a new horse after we decided that it was time for the old boy's jumping career to end I was looking for something that had been and done a bit already. I went to Ireland with my instructor to look at a couple he had lined up for me to see while he was over lifting horses he'd already bought for customers and the riding school. I tried and didn't like both the horses we'd just made an epic journey to see

so I wasn't too popular... We went to collect the other horses and in the middle of a field at about half 11 at night I met a scrawny little bay horse with a mane down to his shoulder. He looked young and weak, and when I asked who he was coming home for I was told that he was green but was coming to do a few months in the school before being sold on. I was also told "not to bloody think about it - not what you're looking for, he's done nothing!" but by the time we'd got about half an hour from the yard it was agreed that I could have a sit on him when we got home.

After a very long trip home and a rest for him I fired some tack on him and took him into the school. My instructor made me lie over him first just to make sure he wasn't going to go bush but he was only a bit tense so got on properly and had a play. He didn't have a clue, was wobbly, couldn't go in a straight line, canter was 'interesting' and in the cold light of day was really pretty poor looking. However, I trotted him down to a tiny cross and he absolutely ballooned it so decided to take the chance with him.

After about a year and a half of trials and tribulations (he became very opinionated as he got more fit and gained condition) - I spent a lot of time on the floor - something finally clicked with him, and three years on he's a superstar - jumping happily at Newcomers and has jumped the odd 1.20m, has done Prelim and Novice dressage and we might even make our eventing debut next year if planned cross country schooling goes to plan. He's still a sharp little bugger - we nearly part company with his spooking on a nearly daily basis it seems but he knows his mum - when I arrive at the yard he shouts for me even when he hasn't seen me yet, wouldn't part with him for anything. And to think he nearly ended up as a riding school horse...

 

[Theresa_F]

Opposite end of the age scale - I brought home a 23 year old TB mare - skin and bone, covered in sores. She knew jog and flat out gallop as paces. Took me 2 years to get right lead canter.

She went on to do very well at local level, dressage, SJ, showing, XC and loved her hunting to the day she died at 29.

I also took on a very fat, unschooled gypsy mare, another two speed - slow and flat out horse. I turned her into a very nice show trad. She too did well at local SJ, XC and dressage, and the showing was coming along really well when the owner wanted her back.

Actually, I never have bought something that was well schooled and ready to go - and have to say that bringing on something from scratch has been so rewarding that I love doing it.

 

[vam]

my mare was started off in the riding school as a bit of a safe plod then slowly turned into an opinionated, bucking one. when i brought her i was the only one that she hadn't bucked off.

once we moved yards and started doing more she turned into the most fantastic allrounder, she just wanted to learn and be challaged something that wasn't happening at the riding school.
i never had any formal instruction and we went through the riding club, onto their sj teams and eventually aff sj, all on our own. took us awhile but in the end people could not beleive the feeling she gave them when they rode her, the more you asked the more she gave.
was so proud of my little 14.3 cob

 

[Lobelia_Overhill]

well done! he looks smashing!

 

[Peacelily]

yup took a nothing - 17.1 6 yo, had no sense of self awareness and would happily try and rear over at any moment (next to buildings, on the road, in the yard, in the school if you asked for trot, or asked for anything really etc...). Owner still wanted him but too scared to do anything - just wanted to see him work etc...
did all the usual things and just gave him some love and a fun time and turned out to be smashing, most people didn't recognise him when I schooled him, won a dressage competition and did a few showjumping outings. However, i'd built up the relationship and this meant with me he was a gem, however, someone else thought they were "big and brave" enough to "take him on" so took him out for a hack on her own; he was shot later that day when he got loose on the road after throwing her off and being hit by a car. still gutted about it.

 

[saz5083]

Both of mine

I must like a challenge

1st one was a scrawny 2yo welsh D (dark bay SJ in my sig) bought from a RS by my non-horsey mother cos he had sad eyes and she couldnt resist! (ideal for your 11 year old daughters first horse no?!) He was very nervy but with time and patience and lots of food he turned into the most amazing little horse ever!

Steep learning curve for me but he was mine and I didnt care how often I hit the deck I knew how lucky I was to have one of my own. Was on all PC and RC teams, won at elementary, did BE (before the days of intro), won county level open workers and was the sweetest, cheekiest character ever. He's now 18 and still going strong on part loan to a girl who does PC with him. Still in the teams and doing well in veteran classes now

And he keeps my other boy in check in the field

Number 2 is my current boy (coloured in my sig). Belonged to a friend who couldnt cope with his attitude problem and as a big burly 3yo he was a bit out of control and rather aggressive. Bought him and spent ages on the ground learning the 'this is my space and you can only come in it if I tell you' dance, and 'if i chose to move your bucket while your eating your gonna have to live with it!'. The first year under saddle he bronked every time we went into canter, reared out hacking and was generally as difficult as possible! Now as a 7yo he's just a gem

He's also won at elementary, on all RC teams, made his BE debut this year and a well respected event rider expects him to go to 1* within 2years .
Its so rewarding giving them the chance to fulfil their potential and I wouldnt hesitate to do it all over again with the next one

 

[JM07]

i do it all the time...it's very satisfying

 

[only_me]

That is a really lovely story!

such a cracker of a horse!

This is not quite the same, but there has been a massive improvment. Sorry there are so many and they are huge, photobucket and I dont agree

This was merlin when he first arrived:

And this is him after a lot of hard work!

Jumping wise, he has improved massivly!
before:

after:

And this mare improved massively in the space of 3 days - I was riding her in a comp in SA.

 

[spookypony]

Well, I wouldn't say he's a "something" yet, but he's certainly not a
"nothing" anymore...when I got him as a green 8yo last October, the spooky pony hadn't been caught in about 6 months, and hadn't been ridden in over a year. He was very nervous of people, and spent his ridden time spooking at everything, running sideways, and planting himself on hacks. When we tried him over some little jumps in November, it became apparent that he was panicky about those, too.

We've had our ups and downs, but now he hacks out alone or in company, goes dressaging about every 2 weeks (not brilliantly yet, but improving steadily), will jump over tiny little jumps without too much trouble, and has even been hunting. And he's turned into a real nibble-pony that will walk up to strangers and search them for treats (the girls at the riding school with their polos must take creadit for that!

).

We've still got a long road ahead of us, but thanks for a great thread! I've been a bit down because someone (not my instructors, I hasten to add) suggested that I sell him because he might be too much for me. Thinking back over his progress has made me realise we're actually doing ok!

 

[MagicMelon]

I bought this:-

And he turned into this:

I bought him as a very green 5yo who'd done nothing except 1 dressage comp and 1 tiny SJ comp. He was at a busy yard where I dont think they had time for him. He was very thin and when we got him home, found out he had lots of worms

He was also very depressed with it, took him months to come out of his shell. He's just done his first CIC* and has over £900 BSJA, all of which I've done as nobody else has ever ridden him so Im a very proud mum

Im also very lucky as he's the easiest, nicest horse in the world.

I've bought a few "hairy fat/thin creatures" off hill-sides too and turned them into really nice pony club ponies etc.

 

[MagicMelon]

This was my other one:

But TBH, yes he was thin and very immature when I got him but then he was a 3yo so understandable. He turned into a pretty boy though I think

 

[ColouredFan]

I bought frankie out of the trade it, he was being sold as he was too spooky for current owner and not good enough to show (he dished).

Before

and Now, he has been my horse of a lifetime, started eventing with him in 2006 he was placed in 12 of 13 Pre novices then we went novice where he has gained 20 points in two season, got a first and 2 second places and we have just qualified for the Novice Championships at Gatcombe in August

 

[skewby]

Oh WOW what great replies! It's so brilliant to see people investing in their horses and giving them a future, I love it.

ColouredFan what a stunning uphill horse. Just, wow. Only_me what a transformation in 3 days, my goodness, testament to your riding and feel I think. Saz it is rewarding isn't it?? And isn't it funny how they find us? You are all fab! Peacelily I'm so sorry to hear about what happened to yours.

Spookypony I'm so glad you didn't listen to anyone who told you he was "too much". I'm still eternally grateful that I found my instructor, my first ever lesson (and I'd had him over 2 years by this point) he took off in the school in panic, lost the plot completely, many instructors would have been way out of their depth and said "shoot it" but mine just went, "ok, I see what you're dealing with" and got on with helping me fix it.

One in a million I know what you mean about tears of joy, frequently mine makes me blub with sheer pride and the emotion of knowing exactly how far he's come. After the bolting stopped he was challenging as he was so forward (still is, I love it) but splat on his forehand and would frequently give me the bird and take off, not in fear any more but because he's big and strong and he wanted to. First hunter trial I ever did (in a waterford gag with one rein on the last hole, I might add) I jumped into an open field and he took off, the commentator was taking the mickey big style (not in a nasty way, in a funny way!!) and we went for miles, when I finallly pulled up and brought him back the spectators had all gathered and were cheering! Lol! He jumped well but I couldn't get him to most of the fences as he was just p|ssing off with me left right and centre. A few years later we got round the same venue under control, not clear (my fault, got a refusal through nerves) but under control and in a snaffle and cavesson. I rode back to the lorry crying my eyes out with sheer pride and joy and people were asking me was I ok! Lol! I must have looked such a loon!!!! But I don't care, I just adore him and how far he's come for me.

This photo means a lot to me too, look how happy I am. This was in the XC fields at my livery yard, where previously he had taken off with me (in a pelham), I'd tried to turn him into the fence to stop but it was by a bank, he shot up the bank and jumped off the top, it was a 10ft drop. The pair of us landed in a heap, no lasting damage but it seriously mangled my hand and his back end for a while, but most of all really dented my confidence. Not least because only a few weeks prior he'd taken off with me out on a hack by ourselves and galloped over half a mile home (I measured it in the car as it was alongside a road). This was about a year later, in the same fields but jumping and doing fast work, fast and forward but jumping like a stag and under control in a snaffle and cavesson